Courtney Fong

California is one of a few states failing to recoup jobs at a pace on par with the rest of the nation. Its weekly unemployment claims make up almost 20% of the United States’ new claims — even though California supplies roughly 12% of the national workforce. Many employers in the state are struggling with […]

Politico California’s Carla Marinucci and CalMatters’ Dan Walters join Nicole and Nigel on the final podcast episode to discuss how the pandemic shaped California politics. “I think we have learned to live with [COVID-19], begrudgingly. Unhappily, perhaps. Although it is kind of interesting that there is this odd sort of residual resistance to the whole […]

Cities across California are turning to participatory budgeting as communities increasingly focus on economic justice, inequality and defunding the police. CapRadio’s News and Features Editor Pauline Bartolone joins Nicole and Nigel on this week’s episode to talk about participatory budgeting and how Vallejo became the first city in America to adopt the process in 2012. […]

Nearly two-thirds of Californians who voted in the recall election voted to keep Gov. Gavin Newsom in office. This week, CalMatters’ Ben Christopher and Laurel Rosenhall join the podcast to discuss what the election outcome means for the 2022 gubernatorial race and the bills sitting on Newsom’s desk from the end of the Legislative session. […]

Californians will decide whether to keep Gov. Gavin Newsom in office with the recall election this Tuesday. CalMatters’ Emily Hoeven and CapRadio’s Scott Rodd join the podcast this week to discuss what recall supporters and opponents are saying about Newsom’s governorship. Wildfires and the state’s chronic Employment Development Department unemployment issues are two main points […]

CapRadio reporters Sammy Caiola and Emily Zentner join this week’s episode to discuss their investigation into how the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office deals with sexual assault cases. They reported that over 80% of the department’s sexual assault cases were cleared by “exceptional means,” a special designation to clear cases without arresting a perpetrator. Experts said […]

Gov. Gavin Newsom announced new vaccine and testing requirements for teachers as schools begin to open for the new academic year, amidst an increase in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations from the Delta variant. CalMatters’ education reporter Joe Hong talks with Nigel about the mandate for teachers to either be vaccinated or undergo weekly testing. Hong […]

The pandemic has revealed how much our workforce, our students, our healthcare and our economy are dependent on the internet. The profound new experience about business meetings on Zoom and classrooms online has forever changed professional relationships, communication and, for many of us, even where we live. Remarkably, just 14 years after the first iPhone, […]

The California recall election is just over a month away and four Republican candidates met for their first debate this week.  Two campaign veterans, Garry South and Rob Stutzman, join the podcast to chew over the debate, and the overall recall election as a whole. South previously worked for Democratic governor Gray Davis, who was […]

Gov. Gavin Newsom announced this week that healthcare and state workers must follow new vaccine requirements to show proof of vaccination or get tested weekly. As wildfires ravage the state and the COVID-19 Delta variant surges across the state, the recall election against Newsom also looms on the horizon. CalMatters’ Emily Hoeven and Ben Christoper […]